Allegheny County, PA Outdoor Lighting: Billboard Lighting (2026)
Key Facts
- Max illumination
- 30 vertical footcandles
- Uniformity ratio cap
- 6:1 max-to-min
- Fixture placement
- Top-mounted, aimed downward
- Yields to
- Conflicting local zoning
Summary
Externally lit billboards and signs reviewed under Allegheny County's subdivision code must be top-mounted, downward-aimed and capped at 30 vertical footcandles of illumination.
Unless otherwise governed by local zoning, externally illuminated billboards and signs shall be lighted by fixtures mounted at the top of the billboard or sign and aimed downward. The fixtures shall be designed, shielded and aimed to shield the source from off-site view and to restrict the light output beyond the sign or billboard. At no point on the face of the sign or billboard shall the illumination exceed 30 initial vertical footcandles, with a maximum-to-minimum uniformity ratio not to exceed 6:1.
(8) Under canopy lighting, for such applications as gasoline service stations, hotel and theater marquees, fast-food and drugstore drive-through facilities, shall utilize flat-lens full-cutoff fixtures aimed straight down and shielded in such a manner that the lowest opaque edge of the fixture shall be below the light source at all lateral angles. The illumination of the area directly below the canopy shall not exceed 20 average footcandles, and the maximum shall not exceed 30 footcandles.
(9) The use of white strobe lighting for tall structures such as smokestacks, chimneys, and radio/communication/television towers is prohibited during hours of darkness, except as specifically required by the FAA.
C. Installation.
(1) New electrical feeds shall be run underground.
(2)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4857026; v12 updated 2024-06-04; through 06-04-2024).
Full Breakdown
Section 780-522.B(7) requires externally illuminated billboards and signs to be lighted by fixtures mounted at the top of the sign and aimed downward, designed and shielded to keep the light source out of off-site view and to keep light from spilling beyond the sign face. Illumination at any point on the sign face cannot exceed 30 initial vertical footcandles, and the ratio between the brightest and dimmest points on the face cannot exceed 6:1. The rule yields to conflicting local zoning where zoning governs the same fixtures.
Violations & Fines
A billboard or sign lighting plan exceeding 30 vertical footcandles or a 6:1 uniformity ratio is not approved by the Department of Economic Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where must billboard lights be mounted?
Does county or municipal zoning control billboard lighting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allegheny County
Compare Allegheny County to another location·View the Pennsylvania outdoor lighting overview
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